I have a confusion...after an auxilary verb like was/were do I still use the past tense behind it? or i just use the present tense like the tense "I did do my homework"?
Well, after was/were you usually use either the present participle (progressive aspect) or the past participle (passive voice), as in:
He was selling.
It was sold.
It is also possible to use the infinitive as in:
He was to sell the house. (this one is about a plan/ arrangement)
Or even a perfect infinitive as in:
I was to have started work last week, but I changed my mind. (a planned event did not happen)
An important remark, SG:
if you use "did" then the main verb should NOT be in its present form!
It should be in the infinitive, or otherwise you will get something like "*He did goes."
I suppose you confused the names.
Rgds,
cairn
He was selling.
It was sold.
It is also possible to use the infinitive as in:
He was to sell the house. (this one is about a plan/ arrangement)
Or even a perfect infinitive as in:
I was to have started work last week, but I changed my mind. (a planned event did not happen)
An important remark, SG:
if you use "did" then the main verb should NOT be in its present form!
It should be in the infinitive, or otherwise you will get something like "*He did goes."
I suppose you confused the names.
Rgds,
cairn
Hi, Anon,
"If I were..." is correct. Yet it would be better if you gave us whole sentences we could comment upon. And yes, all the persons are the same everywhere, when you have a close look at them...
"If I were..." is correct. Yet it would be better if you gave us whole sentences we could comment upon. And yes, all the persons are the same everywhere, when you have a close look at them...
Students: Are you brave enough to let our tutors analyse your pronunciation?
Comments
He was running.
I was eating.
You were going to the city.
It is common to say "I am done". May be it is correct to say "I was done". I am not sure about the other used of was/were.
But one thing is sure that if you use "did" then the main verb should be in present form. For example
I did not do my homework. (I will rewrite your sentence as "I did my homework")
I did not go to movie.
Did you find you wallet?
SG
If I "were"........
however, all the other persons are the same as always
Don't know rhyme or reason, but it was taught as proper grammar
MrP